Rolling-chair.



D. KEMBLE.

ROLLING CHAIR.v

APrLlcmourlLsn1m33.191s. nsnewen Mun. 19u..

l Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

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y Ls' D. KEVIBLE.

ROLLING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED IULY3 1915. RENEWED MAY 11.1917.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

4 SHEES-SHEET 2.

52 i7 5a' 7.9 37 J0 D. KEMBLE.

ROLLING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY31915 RENEWED MAY l1`.l917

.Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

l/fff :Y zw Y V 7 nl KEMBLE. ROLLING CHAIR.

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4 SHEE'I S-SHEET 4.

- UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

nUsTm KEMBLE, oF LISBON, oHIo.

ROLLING-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 3, 1915, Serial No. 37,9413. Renewed May 11, 1917.Serial No. 168,044.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known'that- I, DUsTIN KEMBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at'Lisbon, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inRolling- Chairs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My inventionvrelates particularly to electrically propelled invalid orpleasure cha-irs and their control and has for its object the provisionof a safe, comfortable and useful vehicle vwhich can be readily operatedand controlled by invalids, delicate persons or others both forconvenience and pleasure. To attain this object, and advantages whichwill be herein described, I employ the construction and operating andcontrolling means shown in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a chair embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view in partial section on a horizontal plane throughthe main Wheels and axle of the chair, the s/ection being taken on linea-Tb of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section online c-d of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial section on an enlarged scale through the motorshafts, on line c-cl of Fig. 3.' y

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the hub of one of the mainwheels of the chair.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the main wheel driving ratchet on linee-f of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on line g-k of Fig. 3 showing the arrangement ofsprings and other details.

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electrical connections and controllingdevices which I employ. v

' Fig. 10 is a partial section on line m-m of Fig.`l4, showing thelocation of the operating and brake levers.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the brake and its connections.

Referring to the drawings, 1, represents the chair or vehicle body whichis provided\ with a seat, 2, the back, 3, the floor plate, 4, the panel,5, the steering post bearing, 6. Any. suitable upholstery, 7, may beemployed. The chair is provided with two main `ground or driving wheels,8, 9, Whose functions will be presently described. A

12 is the main wheel axle. The major portion of the weight of the chairbody, the

equipment and the passenger is carried by the under-slung springs, 13,14, whose ends are connected to the seat, 2, bythe spring shackles, 15,16. The springs, 13, 14, are connected to the under side of thebearings, 17, 17, in which the axle, 12, revolves, by means of thespring bolts, 18, 18.

The main wheels, 8, 9, are rotatively mounted upon the axle, 12. 'InFig. 6 the details .of the main Wheel hub construction are shown. l19 isthe body of the hub which, as shown, is provided with flanges, 20, 20,to which are secured the inner ends of the wire spokes, 21, 21. 22 isthe bearing bushing'for the axle, 12, in the wheel hub, 19. 23 is abrake drumformed upon, or-which may be att-ached to the wheel hub. 24 isa brake band which, by means of suitable connections, such as lever, 25,and rod, 26, Fig. 11, may be made to tighten about the drum, 23, andretard or stop the chair. The outer end of the wheel hub, 19, isextended in the form of a cylindrical flange, 27, on the inner surfaceof which is formed 'a ratchet, 28. C'ooperating with' this ratchet isthe pawl. 29, which is pivoted to the collar, 30, which is keyed to theaxle, 12, and secured thereto by means of the washer, 31, and nut, 32.Shoulders, 33 and 34, are formed upon axle, 12, the distance betweenthese shoulders being slightly greater than the length of the bushing,22, yso that when collar, 30, is clamped tightly against shoulder, 34,the hub, 19. may still be free to rotate;`

It will be seen that as the axle, 12, is rotated in the direction topropel the chair forward, the pawl. 29. will engage a tooth of theratchet28and cause the main drive wheel to rotate and carryv the chairwith it. I prefer to provide this ratchet and pawl drive for each ofth'e main drive wheels, although it. is not absolutely essential to theoperation of the chair. One of the main drive wheels may be fixed to theaxle with a be arranged to propel the chair backward upon reversalof-the motor. With my preferred arrangement, however, a very satis--factory compensating movement takes. place between the wheels .whenvturning corners, and it is not essential that the chair be power drivenfor backing.

The main drive wheels, 8, 9, are shown provided with hand rims, 35, 36,which may be used for manipulating the chair as desired.

Upon the outer end of the drive wheel hub, 19, is screwed the'hub cap,37. A

spring, 38, of any convenient form may be r wheel, 41,.which is adaptedto be driven by the motor, 42, by means of the clutch, 43, and worm, 44.Attached to bearings, 17, 17, by bolts, 18, 18, and supported on axle,12,

. by bearings, 45, 46, is the frame or` plate, 47,

upon which is mounted the housing, 48', whichincloses worm wheel, 41,and worm,l 44. Annular bearings, 49, 50, carried by housing, 48, takethe radial thrust, and thrust bearings, 51, 52, take the end thrust ofworm, 44. lThe frame or plate, 47, has longitudinal arms, 53, 54,extending parallel with axle, 12, and cross arms, 55, 56, extendingcrosswise-to the axle, 12. The longitudinal arms, 53, 54, are secured tothe under side of bearings, 17,17, by the bolts, 18, 18,

which also serve to secure the springs, 13, 14,

as previously described.

To the under side of cross arm, 55, is secured the direct current motor,42, whose armature shaft, 57, is extended through the hub of worm, 44,and is free to revolve therein.4 @ne member, 58, of jaw clutch, 43, ismounted upon and keyed to an extension of the hub of worm, 44, and theother member, 59, of clutch, 43, is slidably mounted upon shaft, 57, anddriven thereby through the key, 60. The outer end of shaft, 57, projectsbeyond the hub .of worm, 44, and has one member, 61, of a jaw clutch,62, keyed to it.

- The other member, 63, of clutch, 62, is slidably mounted upon therotor shaft, 64, of another motor, 65, which is secured to the underside ofcross arm, 56, of plate,'47, the two shafts, 57 and 64, being inaxial alinement. A key, 66, makes driving connection between shaft, 64,and .clutch member, 63. A sleeve, 67, surrounds the adjacent ends ofshafts, 57 and 64, and enters counterbores in clutch members, 61 and 63,to assist in preserving the alinement of these shafts, which are free torevolve in sleeve, 67.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that motion may beimparted toworm, 44, from shaft, 57, when clutch, 43,`is engaged, andthat motion may be imparted to shaft, 57, from shaft, 64, when clutch,62, is engaged. lt will also be obvious that when nacaeoe clutch, 62, isdisengaged, worm, 44, may be driven by motor, 42,z through clutch, 43,while motor, 65, is at rest.`

rlhe object of the above described arrangement of parts is to providefor propelling .the chair by motor, 42, by current from the storagebattery, 68, which is carried by a supporting frame, 69, supported byattachments to the body of the chair, and to further provide fordisengaging the motor, 42, from the chair propelling mechanism and fordrivin this motor, 42, as a generator for charging t e storage battery,by power developed in m0tor,'65, which may be either of the ldirectoralternating current type, and

which is adapted to be connected to an ex- 1 ternal source of electriccurrent.

At the rear of the vehicle, l' provide a swivel wheel, 11, carried by afork, 70,

. the stem of which, 71, is supported in a bear- .ing in frame, 72,which is divided and extends forward to the axle, 12, to which it isrotatively secured by bearings, 73, 7 4.

Cross arm, 55, has an extension, 75, which projects beyond the motor,42, and is pro- ,vided with a guide, 76, for a vertical pin, 7 7

which is pivotally secured at 78 to frame, 72. Surrounding pin, 77,between the extension,

7 5, of cross arm, 55, and frame, 72, is a helit cal spring, 79,pressing, at the top, against the extension, 7 5, and at the bottom,against the frame, 72, withany initial tension that may be foundnecessary or desirable.

The objects of the rear wheel,` 11, and spring, 7 9, are to prevent thebackward Voverturning of `the chair and to provide a means forcushioning certain shocks which would otherwise be directly and suddenlyimparted to the chair body, through the main springs', when the vehicleruns over an obstacle, particularly when mounting or descending a`street curbstone. A further lobject of the Wheel, 11, is to providemeans for resisting the tendency of the worm, 44, to travel around theworm Wheel 41, when power is being tranmitted from the motor, 42, to theaxle, 12. This tendency is resisted in part by designing the chair sothat its center of gravity, when` the chair is completely equipped, isin front of 'the axle, 12, and is further resistedby the reaction of theroadway upon the wheel, 11, which is transmitted through the wheel fork,70, frame, 72, and spring, 7 9, to plate, 47, to which is secured thehousing 48, which supports the bearings for the worm. l A

lit will be seen that the above mentioned tendency of the worm, 44, totravel around the worm wheel, 11, is met only by' spring resistance. Themoment of the weight of the chair resists the moment of the worm aboutthe axle, 12, through the main springs, 13, 14, to whose axle bearingsupports', 17, 17, the worm housing, 48, is rigidly connect- .ed byplate, 47; and the moment of the roadway reaction npon wheel, `11, actsthrough the spring, a7 9, as previouslyl described. These are lm portantfeatures of y my invention which add materially to the comfort of thepassenger and to the mechanical life of the chair.

Particular attention'is drawn to the organization and functions of myrear wheel whose objects have already been vbriefly outlined. By myconstruction, it is possible for the/chair to be driven over obstacleswithout fear of physical discomfort of the passenger. When mounting acurb, the passenger, by leaning back in the chair may partially relievethe front wheel of its pressure on thev roadway and place a considerableweight upon the rear wheel, so that the front wheel will readil mountthe curb. Then, by leaning forward, the total weight of the chair andpassenger may be largely divided between the front and reary wheels, sothat themain drive wheels will readily mountthe curb, when the rearwheel will follow without imparting severe shock to the passenger.Similarly, when descending a curb, the wheels may be dropped insuccession from front to rear, with a minimum of discomfort to thepassenger. l

While I have shown only one front and one rear wheel,A it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that two wheels maybe used insteadof one, either lin front lor in the rear, or both in` front and irear,and

that they may be connected to their supports in any well known manner. lFor the sake of lightness and simplicity, I prefer to use only one frontand one rear wheel.

IThe electrical connections and control of my chair are show/n indiagram in Fig. 9. In this ligure the electric motors, switches,

' and other devices are shown in conventional symbolism. In thisdiagram, 42 is the chair propelling' motor, and 65 is the motor which 1semployedA for driving motor, 42, as a generator for charging the storagebattery, 68. 80 is a rheostat for use in starting and operating motor,42. The operation of the -rheostat is effected by means of lever, 80a,

Vto

and suitable mechanical connections shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10. 81and 82 are circuit controlling switches adapted to perform certainfunctions whichwill be presently described. A

I 81 ,is a single pole switch, adapted to be manually opened, the arm,83, of which is pivoted atl-84 to `a contact electrically. connected toone terminal of the, storage Vbattery, 68. A spring, 85, is provided toclose arm, 83,"upon contact, 86, which lis electrically connected tobrush, 87, of motor, 42. The arm, 83, is provided with a notch `o rother means for .engaging with a detent hook, 88, upon the lever, 89,which carries the keeper, 9 0, of electromagnet, 91. A spring,92,attached to lever, 89, opposes the hold detent hook, 88, in engagementwith the notch in arm, 83, to hold the latter in open position shown byfull lines in the drawing. 93 is a stop pin for limitingthemovement oflever, 89. 94 and 95 are stop pins for limiting the movement of switcharm, 83,

82 is a three pole switchfhaving switch arms, 96, 97 and 98, pivotedrespectively to contacts, 99, 100 and 101. The three arms, l96, 97 and98, are mechanically connected by the cross b ar, 102. Switch, 82, isadapted to be manually closed, and to be opened bythe action of aspring,103, which is shown attached to an extension of arm, 96, beyond thepivot Contact, 99. The eX- tension of arm, 96, is provided lwith anotch' or other means for engaging withy a detent f switch, 82, makeContact with terminals,

109, 110 and 111 respectively, when thrown to the right, as shown in thedrawing. An additional terminal, 112, is provided, and arm,'l98, makescontact with this terminal when the switch, 82, is thrown to the left.Stop pins, 113 and 114, are provided to1 `li1nit the movement 'of thearms of switch,

82. Switches, 81` and 82, may be located at any'v convenient place onthe chair.

The connections and functions ofthe devices just described will be bestunderstood from the following description of the elec# tricaloperation'and control of my inven-l tion.

-, Assuming that the battery is properlyv charged and that the chair isready for operation, the position of the switches will be as followsz-Rheostat, 80,-will be open, its contact lever being thrown to theleft' as shownin the drawing. Switch, 81, will the drawing. Switch, 82,will be thrown to the left, opening the -circuits through arms, 96 and97, and closing arm, 98, upon terminal, 112. Before starting the chair,the clutch, 62, will be disengaged and clutch, 43, will be engaged. Tostart the chair, the passenger will move the lever of rheostat,

'80, to the right, closing the circuit through the rheostat. As soon asthe rheostat circuit is closed, current will How from the battery, 68,through the motor, 42, by way4 of the: following circuit z--Fromterminal, 115, current will flow through conductor, 116, rheostat, 80,conductor, 117, motor, 42, conductor 118, switcl1,81 and conductor,

119,-to the other terminal, 120, of battery,

68. It will be seen that switch arm, 83, is

be closed, as shown by the dotted lines in l shunted by electromagnet,91, the circuit vbeing made from the terminal, 86, through words is avoltage coil, and the currentl which will flow through it when switcharm, 83 is closed, will be negligible.

lt will be seen that the chair may be operated by merely manipulatingthe lever of the rheostat, 80. Should it occur that the switch, 81, hasbeen left open', it will be automatically closed as soon as the circuitis madethrough rheostat, 80. F or,'under such conditions, the potentialof the battery will be applied to the coil of electromagnet, 91, atterminals, 86 and 84, and the detent hook, 88, will be disengaged by thepull of electromagnet, 91, thus allowing switch, 81, to close and themotor, 42, to start.

To charge the battery rby current developed in the motor, 42, driven asa generator by motor, 65, clutch, 43, is disengaged and clutch, 62, isengaged. Connections are made to an external source of electric current,by any suitable means vto terminals,

123 'and 124, of the circuit leading to the motor, 65. Switch, 81, ismanually opened and is retained in an open position by detent hook, 88.Switch, 82, is now manually thrown to the right and held there untildetent hook, 104, engages to retain the vswitch closed. The closing ofswitch, 82,

completes the circuit through motor, 65, by way of terminal, 123,conductor, 125, motor brushes, 126 and 127, conductor, 128, switch arm,97, conductor, 129, and terminal 124. It will be seen that up to thistime the battery circuit to motor, 42, is open. As soon as the motor,65, starts to rotate, an electromotive force willbe generated in thearmature of motor, 42, which now becomesa generator. A circuit fromdynamo, 42, through electromagnet, 91, is completed when switch arm, 98,contacts with terminal, 111, the circuit passing from brush, 87, throughconductor, 118, terminal, 86, conductor, 120,

- electromagnet, 91, conductor, 121, arm, 98,

conductor, 130, and conductor, 117, back to the dynamo, 42'. Thestrengths of electromagnet, 91, and spring, 92, are so proportioned thatthe pull of the electromagnet, 91, will overpower thatv of the spring,92, upon lever, 89, when the electromotive force of dyanmo, 42, issuiiicient to overcomethat of the battery, 68. When such a condition isreached, detent hook, 88, will release switch arm, 83, and the latterwill be thrown into contact with terminal, 86, by spring, 85.

A circuit will now be establishedv from the dynamo, 42, through battery,68, from brush, 87, through conductor, 118,switch arm, 83, conductor,119, battery, 68, conductor, 116, conductor, 132, electromagnet, 107switch and the hand incase@ arm, 96, conductor, 131, and conductor, 117,back tothe dynamo, 42. As soon as the battery charging current energizeslelectromagnet, 107, sufficiently to overpower the spring, 108, thelever, 105, will be pulled upward and detent hook, 104, will engage thenotch on the extension of arm, 96, and hold the switch, 82, closed asshown in the drawing,

of the operator may be removed. f

Should the current decrease so that the pull of spring, 108, overpowersthat of the electromagnet, 107, the detent hook, 104, .will again bedisengaged from the notch on the extension of switch arm, 96, andswitch, 8c 82, will be opened by spring, 103, thus stopping motor, 65,and opening the circuit between the battery, 68, and dynamo, 42.

For handling the chair up and down stairs, as, for instance, when takingthe chair into a house or onto a porch, 1 provide a drum, 133, andcable, 134. The drum, 133, is rotatively and slidably mounted upon aXle,12, and is provided with a friction clutch element, 135, on onev si'deadjacent t0 90 the hub ot` worm wheel, 41, which carries acorrespondino` friction clutch element, 136.

A lever, 137, plvoted at' 138 to the plate, 47, and in operativeengagement with the drum, 133, is provided for shifting the latter sothat its clutch element, 135, will engage the clutch element, 136, onworm, 41.

In order to operate this drum and cable device to draw the chair up anincline, l provide a reversing switch, not shown, for 10@ the motor, 42.When equipped with this device, both of the main drive wheels, 8, 9, areprovided with ratchet drives for forward propulsion only, .and the-rotation of the axle, 12, in the reverse direction is not transmittedto the drive wheels. rThe cable, 134, is, accordingly, placed upon vthedrum, 133, so as to wind upon it, when axle, 12, is rotated in thereverse direction.

Upon the fra-me of the chair body, upon 11o ,i

or near the steering post bearing,'6, I provide a guide, 139, for thecable, 134.

`When it is desired to haul. the chair up stairs or other steep incline,the cable, 134, is brought forward through guide, 139, and attached t0 asuitable fixed anchor or post, the motor, 42, is reversed and the clutchmembers, 135 and 136, engaged. rlhe cable, 134, will now be wound uponthe drum, 133, and the cha-ir will be drawn up the incline.

To let the chair down an incline, the cable, 134, is attached as beforeto the fixed anchor or post, and the chair is let down the inclineby'allowing the clutchmembers, 135 and 136, to slip by manipulating thelever, 137. 1f 125 the inclination of the teeth of the worm wheel, 41,and worm, 44, is such that motion cannot be transmitted from the wormwheel, 41, to the worm, 44, it will not b e necessary to operate themotor, 42, when letting the 130 chair down an incline. If motion can betransmitted from worm wheel, 41, to worm, 44, the motor, 42, will beoperated in the direction to wind cable, 134, on drum, 133, and thedescent of the chair will be controlled by the friction of clutchmembers, 135 and 136, as before.

To prevent the rotation of the drum, 133, when not in use I provideprojections upon its hub which will engage, corresponding projectionsupon bearings, 46. I prefer to arrange these interlocking projections sothat they will not engage immediately upon the release of. clutchmembers, 135 and 136, but so that there will be an intermediate'positionin which the drum may rotate freely when the cable is being paid out forattachment tothe ixed point.

It will be apparent that the chair may 'be drawn up an incline,backward, or let down an incline forward, by running the cable to therear of the chair instead of to the front.

To assist n the support of the chair body, and to preventunduevibrations of it, I provide the slotted post guides, 140, 141,which permit the chair body and axle to have free, vertical, relativemovement but prevent the direct forward and'back movement which isobjectionable to nervous persons.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided simple and safe,yet complete method and means for the control and 'operation of myelectrically propelled invalid chair, self contained in the organizationof the chair and equipment. lThe advantages of my invention are numerousand not found in any similar apparatus which has been proposed, so faras I am aware.

Some of these advantages are The chair, having. both front and rearwheels, can not be overturned forwardl or backward. This feature givesthe passenger a sense of security and a positive protection which theordinary rolling chair does not aord.

Forward and back vibrations, or jiggling, which are very trying to thenerves, are almost entirely eliminated or are transformed into a springcushioned swaying, by my improved construction, the chair body being atall times pivoted onthe main axle by the slotted post guides so thatmovements of the chair body relative to the main axle are confined tovertical or rotary movements.

By my construction the width of the chair may be made so that it may beused on.

narrow sidewalks and pass through crowds with a minimum ofinconvenience.

An especial advantage 5f my inventlon lies in its ability to negotiatestreet crossings as has been previously mentioned.

No garage or special housing provision is needed formy chair as it maybe kept in the house or any building and readily handles4 itself inentering and leaving.

No special facilities are needed for charging the electric storagebattery as such facilities are provided by my invention.

`No pushingattendant is necessary, yet the chair has the ability toascend. and descend steeper grades than it would be possible fOr eitherman pushed or hand rim vpropelled. chairs to negotiate with safety if atall.

Its weight'is small compared tothat of the smallest automobile.

Further, and vperhapsmost important, the

use of -my -invention adds greatly to the supported .by bearings uponthe axle, a platev xed to the bearings and extending rearwardlytherefrom, a frame swiveled on, the

axle and extending rearwardly-therefrom, a

Letters L chair, the mainl drive I rear wheel mounted in asupportcarried by the frame, and a spring interposed between the plate and theframe to oppose the backlward overturning of the bearings about theaxle.

2. In a rolling chair, the main drivel wheels, vthe axle therefor, thesteering wheel, the chair body, springs for the chair body supported bybearings upon the axle, aplate fixed to the bearings and extendingrearwardly therefrom, a motor mounted on the plate and having a drivingconnection with the axle, a frame swiveled on the axle and extendingrearwardlyv` therefrom, al rear wheel mounted in a support carried bythe frame, a spring interposed between theplate and the frame to opposethe backward over- 'v turning of the bearings about the axle, and

driving means between the axle and the main drive wheels.

3. In a rolling chair, main drive wheels mounted upon an axle, springsupports carried by the axle, a chair body,"springs inter-- posedbetween the chair body and said spring supports, a frame swiveled uponthe axle and extending rearwardly therefrom, a

ground wheel mounted in said frame, and

, means interposed between said frame and said spring supports to opposethe backward overturning of thev spring supports.I

4. In a rolling' chair having an axle and two ground wheels looselymounted upon the axle, a drum carried by the axle, a cable wound uponthe drum and adapted to have its free end secured to a fixed point at adistance from the chair, means carried bythe 'chair for preventing therotation of the axle,

land a friction brake between the axle and `(the drum to control therotation of the drum when lowering the chair by gravity.

5. In a rolling chair, drive wheels mounted upon an axle, twoindependent frames swiveled on said axle, a chair body mounted on `oneof said frames, a rear ground Wheel mounted on a support in the other ofsaid frames, and elastic means interposed be tween said frames, whereby,when said ed upon an axle, a main frame carried by bearings upon'saidaxle, a chair body supported by springs upon said frame, a second tramepivotedfto rock in the same vertical, longitudinal plane as said mainframe, and thaving one end extendingrearwardly from said axle, a rearground wheel carried by a support in said second frame, and a springinterposed between said frames to resist the backward overturningof-said main frame about said axle.

7. ln a rolling chair, drive wheels mounted upon an axle, twoindependent frames carried by said axle extending rearwardlytherefrom'one abovethe other and adapted to rock'to and from each otherabout said axle, a chair body carried by the upper said frame, a groundwheel carried by the lower said frame, and a spring interposed betweensaid frames to yeldingly hold themapart.

8. ln a rolling chair having drive wheels and an axle therefor indriving connection` with one of said wheels, a worm wheel mounted uponthe axle in drivingv connection therewith, a housing for said worm wheelswiveled on said axle, a worm mounted in bearings in said housingandoperatively engaging said worm wheel, a motor mounted on said housing,driving connections between said motor and said worm, a chair bodysupported on said housing, a frame pivoted to rock about said axle andextending rearwardly therefrom, a rear ground wheel carried by asupportin said frame', and a spring interposed between said housing andsaid :trame to oppose the backward overturning of said housing aboutsaid axle.

9. In a rolling chair having drive wheels, and an axle therefor indriving connection with one of said wheels; power transmitting gearingconnected to said axle; a housing for said gearing supported by bearingson said axle; a motor mounted on said housing; driving connectionsbetween said motor and said power transmitting gearing; a chair bodysupported on said housing; a frame, pivoted to rock in a vertical planetransverse to said axle, extending rearwardly therefrom; a rear groundwheel carried by a support in said frame; and a spring interposedbetween said housing and said frame to oppose the backwardvoverturning'otl said housing about said axle.

Laeaeoe 10. 1n a rolling chair, a pair of drive.

wheels rotatably mounted on an axle, means .cooperating with the axleand one of the drive wheels whereby said wheel is rotated by said axlefor propelling the chair forward, a housing supported by bearings rota-``body adapted to support a portion of the weight of the chair, and aspring interposed between said housing and said frame to oppose thebackward overturning of said hous-y ing about said axle.

1l. In a rolling chair, main drive Wheels mounted upon an axle, ahousing carried by bearings upon the axle, a chair body, springssupporting the chair body upon the housing, a frame swiveled on the axleand extend ing rearwardly therefrom,l a ground wheel mounted lon saidframe, and a spring interposed between said housing and said frame tooppose the backward rotation of said housing about said axle.

12. In a rolling chair, a pair otdrive wheels rotatably mounted upon anaxle,'a-

chair body, an axle housing supported by bearings on the axle, a'rearward extension therefrom, springs carried by the axle hous-l ingand supporting and securing the chair body thereto, a motor mounted uponthe axle housing and having a driving 'connection to the axle, a framejournaled to'the axle and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear wheelsupport swiveled therein, a rear wheel carried in the rear wheelsupport, a spring interposed betweenthe frame and the axle housing toprevent the backward overturning of the chair body, driving "meansbetween the axle and one of the drive wheels, and a front steering wheelmounted in a swivel support on the chair body.

13. In a rolling chair, an axle; two ground wheels rotatably mountedthereon; a drum rotatably mounted on said axle.; a cable wound upon thedrum and adapted to have its free end secured to a fixed point at adistance from the chair; a reversible motor mounted on the chair;driving connections between the motor and the axle; means connectingsaid axle and one ,of said wheels to rotate said wheel to propel thechair forward only; and a clutchon said axlefada-pted to engage androtate said drum with said axle, whereby, when said cable has its freeendsecured to a fixed point at a distance from said chair, said clutchis engaged, and said motor is operated, said chair may be drawn towardsaid fixed point by said cable.

between said axle and said drum; and means v for engaging anddisengaging said friction means; whereby, when said axle is rotated bysaid motor, said "drum maybe rotated to vwind said cable, and wherebywhen said cable is secured to a fixed point at a distance from y thechair the movement of the chaira down an incline may be controlled bysaid friction means. l v

v15. In a-,rolling chair, an axle; ground wheels rotatably mountedthereon a drum rotatably mounted on the axle; a cablewound upon therdrumand ladapted .to have its free end secured to a fixed point at adistance from the chair; locking means on said chair independentof saidaxle adapted when engaged with vsaid drum to lock ity against rotation;and means lfor engagingv said drum and said locking means.

16l In a -rolling chair, an axle; ground wheels rotatably' mountedthereon; a .drum rotatably mounted on the axle; a' cable wound upon thedrum vand vvadapted to have its free end secured to 'a Afixed point at a'distance from the chair; a motor mounted on the chair; drivingconnections between the motor and the axle; friction vdriving meansbetween the axle and the drum; means for 'engaging 'and disengaging saidfriction means; locking means on the chair,

independent of the axle, adapted, when en-` gagedwith said drum, to lockit against rotation; and means for engaging said drum and said lockingmeans.

17. In a .rolling chair, a pair of main carrying wheels mounted on anax'ie; a

front steeringwbeel; a chair body spring supported on said axle; aswivel support for said steering wheel fixed to said chair body; a rearground wheel; and means for holding said rear ground wheel in verticallyyielding contact with 'the ground so that a por-` tion of the weight ofthe'chair is at all times carried 'by said rear ground wheel,`

18. In a rolling chair, a'pair oflmain carrying Wheels'and an axletherefor; a chair body extending forward and back-4 Ward from said axle;spring supports interposed between the axle and the chair body; asteering Wheel mounted by 'a fork and swivel joint support upon thechair body vin front of the axle; and a ground wheel.

at the rear ofthe axle, mounted. by a fork and swivel joint supportyieldlngly oonnected to the chairbody; w ereby both the on even ground.'

front steering Wheel and the rear ground.

wheel are each made tor carry a part `of the weight of the chair at thesame time on uneven as Well as on even ground. Y v

19. In a rolling chair, a pair of main carrying wheels and an axletherefor; a chair body; supporting means connecting the chair body andthe axle; la` steering wheel mountedby a fork and swivel joint supportat the front ofthe chair; a rear wheel and elastic means for holdingsaid` rear wheel in' yielding contact with the ground, said elasticIrneans reacting through` the chairbody upon said steering Wheel tocause said steering wheel and said rear wheel to carry part of theweight of the chair at the same time on uneven as well as l 20. In arolling chair, a pair'of *main carrying wheels andan axle therefor; achair body `mounted* by' springs on .said

axle; a front steering wheel mounted in av fixed 'swivelsupport at thefront of said chair and a rear wheel mounted in a swivel support at therear of the chair; said swivel support for the rear wheel havingl ayielding springconnection with the chair body whereby said 'chair bodymay be tilted backward. so as to raise said steerinlg' the level of theground with w ich the other wheels of the chair are in contact, in orderwheel above! to facilitate the mounting-of a street curb l or otherobstacle; v

21'. In a rolling chair, a vpair of main carrying wheels andanaxletherefor; a chair body. mo1mted on said axle; a front steering'wheelmounted in a swivel support at the front of said chair; a rearv groundVwheel mounted in a swivel support'at the rear of the chair; and elasticmeans inter-.-

posed between said rear wheel support and the chair body whereby saidrear wheel is yieldingly pressedv against thel ground to cause said rearwheel and said steering vwheel te carry part .ofthe weight of the chairat the same time on uneven. as welllas on even ground.v

22. In a rolling chair7 a pair .of main carrying ,wheels andan axletherefor; a

chair body; springs connected -b shacklesl tothe chair body and supporteby bear-` ings-on said axle; a front steering wheel carried' by a swivelsupport .at the front of the e chair body; a rear groundwheel and a sup'port therefor; and elastic meansinter'posed between said'rear groundwheel support and said bearings VJfor holding/said rear ground wheel inresiliently yieldingjcontact with the ground, thus forming a compoundlever of -said chair body and'saidl springs Vwherelby the weight of thechair is carried partly by .themain carrying wheels.

23. carrying wheels and an axle therefor; a

chair body spring'mounted upon said axle;l

n a rolling chair,- a palr of main a steering wheel connected to thechair body in front of the axle, a swivel mounting carrying a groundwheel at the rear of the axle and having an elastic connection to thechair body adapted to press said ground wheel against the ground belowas well as in or above the plane of Contact of the other wheels with theground, thus causing both the steering wheel and the ground wheel tocarry part of the weightdof the chair at all times onuneven as well. ason even ground.

24. In a rolling chair, a pair of main carrying wheels and an axletherefor; a chair body and springs interposed between the axle and thechair body; a steering wheel carried by a swivel support at the front ofthe chair and a rear ground wheel carried by a swivel support having aresilient connection to the chair body; and a post connected to thebottom of the chair body extending downward therefrom, and provided witha vertical slot to receive said axle as a guide therefor, and thus toprevent forward and backward vibration of said chair .body and torsionalstrains of said springs. y

25. ln a rolling chair, a pair of main carrying wheels and an axletherefor; a .chair body and springs linterposed between the axle and thechair body; a steering wheel carried by a swivel support atl the frontof the chair and a rear ground wheel carried by a swivel support havinga resilient connection to 'the chair body; and a post on either side ofthe chair connected to the /chair body, extending downward therefrom,each post bein provided with a vertical slot to receive an to form aguide for said axle, and thus to prevent torsional and side strains onsaid springs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa-- ture iny presence of twoWitnesses.

DUs'riN KEMBLE.

Witnesses:

AETHEL R. Coon,

R. Gr. CURREN.

